Osteopathic bed slat



M y 1951 E. F. SMITH 2,551,976

OSTEOPATHIC BED SLAT Filed April 4, 1945 INk/ENTOR EDWARD F. SMITH 031MQM? HIS ATTORNEY Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2Claims.

This invention relates to portable and foldable table tops andparticularly to one especially designed for the use of osteopaths.Physicians of this type are frequently called on to give treatments topatients at their homes, and for this purpose they require a relativelyunyielding surface on which the patient reclines while taking thetreatment.

It is therefore the main object of my invention to provide a device forthe purpose which may be readily folded or collapsed into a compactbundle, easily carried in an automobile and hence convenient to takefrom place to place when making home calls.

The table top includes a plurality of parallel slats connected togetherfor folding together into a roll, while each slat comprises a pair ofseparate portions hinged together. This enables a portion of the device,when unfolded and in use to be turned up at an angle to support a pillowor the like. The provisions of this advantageous feature being anotherobject of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device as unfolded and in positionfor use.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional elevation of one of the slatsshowing the hinge connection between the portions of the slat.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device partly folded.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the device fully folded.

Fig. 5 i a fragmentary perspective view of the device with the hingedslat portions turned up at an angle.

Referring to the characters of reference on the drawings, the devicecomprises a plurality of elongated smooth and flat slats, each of whichcomprises a main portion 1 and a relatively short extension 2 connectedto portion l by a recessed or countersunk hinge 3 as plainly shown. Theslats are flexibly connected together for folding or unfolding movementby cords 4 passing closely through bores in the slats, and are held inspaced relation by knots 5 in the cords between adjacent slats and onthe sides. Two of the cords pass through the main slat portions I, whilea third cord passes through the hinged extensions.

When the device is being transported, it is folded as shown in Fig. 4,making a very compact and readily handled bundle as will be evident.When arranged for use, the device is unfolded and preferably placed on aspring mattress of a bed, as indicated in Fig. 1. This provides asuitable rigid surface on which to place a patient for treatment. If itis desired that the patient shall lie with the head and shoulders up,the sections 2 are tilted up at any desired angle, as shown in Fig. 5,suitably held in that position for the support of a pillow.

I claim:

1. Osteopathic bed slats comprising a plurality of rigid slats of equallength and arranged in spaced parallel relation, an extension member foreach slat, said extension members being of equal length with one anotherand of the same breadth and thickness as the rigid slats, and forming acontinued uninterrupted surface therewith when in the fully extendedposition, hinge members connecting each extension member to itscorresponding rigid slat, said rigid slats and said extension membershaving laterally extending openings passing entirely therethrough, cordspassing through the said registering openings, and knots in said cordsbetween the adjacent edges of the rigid slats and the extension membersto maintain the same in spaced parallel relationship.

2. Osteopathic bed slats comprising a plurality of rigid longitudinalslats of equal length and arranged in spaced parallel relation, anextension member hinged to each slat, said extension member being of thesame breadth and thickness as the slat and forming an interruptedsurface therewith when in fully extended position, and means forflexibly connecting said slats and extensions and for holding them inspaced parallel relation,

.said means permitting said slats and extensions to be foldedlongitudinally in a stack.

EDWARD F. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

